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By Oscar Okhifo
The Federal Government has removed convicted husband killer, Maryam Sanda, from the revised list of beneficiaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon, following a review triggered by widespread public backlash.
Sanda was in January 2020 sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello.
Her conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2022, leading to her continued incarceration at the correctional center.
The initial announcement of the clemency list sparked outrage across the country, with many Nigerians describing it as a grave injustice to victims of violent crimes.
Public reactions were sharply divided, with only a few voices applauding the President for the gesture.
Among the names that infuriated Nigerians most was that of Sanda, prompting calls for the list to be reviewed.
Even within the family of the slain husband, sharp disagreement ensued. A faction led by Bilyaminu’s foster father, former PDP chairman Haliru Bello, condemned the move as insensitive to the pain caused by what they described as the brutal murder of their son.
He insisted that releasing Sanda would reopen deep emotional wounds the family was still struggling to heal.
However, Bilyaminu’s biological father publicly expressed support for the President.
In a press conference, he said the families had long reconciled and even appealed to former President Muhammadu Buhari to grant her clemency for the sake of her young children.
He praised President Tinubu for considering their plea.
The conflicting positions exposed cracks within the Bello family over how justice should ultimately be served.
Following the backlash, the Presidency says it has reviewed the list in consultation with the Council of State and directed the removal of individuals convicted of serious crimes including murder, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms, drug-related offences, human trafficking and large-scale fraud.
Though Sanda has now lost her spot on the pardon list, the government confirmed that her death sentence has been formally commuted to 12 years imprisonment, a decision authorities say aligns with ongoing correctional reforms and humanitarian considerations.
The development, while easing some public tension, is expected to trigger further debate.
Many Nigerians would likely argue that only the original death sentence, endorsed by the Supreme Court, would serve full justice.
Others, would welcome the reduction, and would note that it is a better outcome than a full pardon that could have seen her walk free this year.
The revised list has been forwarded to the Nigerian Correctional Service for immediate implementation, as the Tinubu administration reiterates its commitment to ensuring that executive powers of mercy are not applied at the expense of justice and public confidence in the legal system.